Original
Modern English
Naught, naught all, naught! I can behold no longer: The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral, With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder: To see’t mine eyes are blasted.
Nothing, nothing at all, nothing! I can’t watch anymore: The Egyptian admiral, with all sixty of their ships, Is fleeing and steering away: It’s so bad I can’t bear to see it.
Gods and goddesses, All the whole synod of them!
Gods and goddesses, All of them together!
What’s thy passion!
What’s wrong with you?!
The greater cantle of the world is lost With very ignorance; we have kiss’d away Kingdoms and provinces.
The largest part of the world is lost Because of sheer ignorance; we’ve lost Kingdoms and entire provinces.
How appears the fight?
How’s the battle going?
On our side like the token’d pestilence, Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt,-- Whom leprosy o’ertake!--i’ the midst o’ the fight, When vantage like a pair of twins appear’d, Both as the same, or rather ours the elder, The breese upon her, like a cow in June, Hoists sails and flies.
On our side, it’s like a deadly plague, Where death is inevitable. That miserable Egyptian horse, Whom leprosy has overtaken!--in the middle of the fight, When the advantage seemed equal, Both sides the same, or ours even stronger, She turns around, like a cow in summer, Hoists her sails, and runs away.
That I beheld: Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not Endure a further view.
I saw it: My eyes grew sick at the sight, and I couldn’t Stand to look at it any longer.
She once being loof’d, The noble ruin of her magic, Antony, Claps on his sea-wing, and, like a doting mallard, Leaving the fight in height, flies after her: I never saw an action of such shame; Experience, manhood, honour, ne’er before Did violate so itself.
Once she was free, The great downfall of her magic, Antony, Takes off in his ship, and, like a lovesick duck, Leaving the battle at its peak, chases after her: I’ve never seen anything so disgraceful; Experience, bravery, honor—never before Have they so betrayed themselves.
Alack, alack!
Oh, oh!
Our fortune on the sea is out of breath, And sinks most lamentably. Had our general Been what he knew himself, it had gone well: O, he has given example for our flight, Most grossly, by his own!
Our fortunes at sea are running out of steam, And sinking terribly. If our general Had been what he should have been, it would have gone better: Oh, he has set an example for our retreat, Most disgracefully, by his own actions!
Ay, are you thereabouts? Why, then, good night indeed.
Oh, are you serious? Well, then, good night for sure.
Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.
They’ve fled toward Peloponnesus.
’Tis easy to’t; and there I will attend What further comes.
It’s easy enough; and I’ll stay here To see what happens next.
To Caesar will I render My legions and my horse: six kings already Show me the way of yielding.
I’ll surrender My legions and my cavalry to Caesar: six kings already Show me the way to surrender.
I’ll yet follow The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason Sits in the wind against me.
I’ll still follow The wounded fate of Antony, even though my mind Is against me, like the wind.